10 Most Important Temples of Lord Vishnu and his avatars in India

Who is Lord Vishnu? Vishnu is a Hindu god, the Supreme God of Vaishnavism (one of the three principal denominations of Hinduism) and one of the three supreme deities (Trimurti) of Hinduism. He is also known as Narayana and Hari.

Lord Vishnu is said to be “the protector and preserver” of the Trinity (others being Shiva and Brahma). Sri Vishnu reincarnates over and over again to protect the universe from evil, especially when the evil has grown sturdier and dysbalanced the cosmic universe.

Here is the list of 10 Most Important Temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his avatars.1. Jagannath Temple, Puri

The Jagannath temple of Puri is one of the “Char Dhams” of Vaishnavism and has a special meaning for Vishnu followers. The architecture of the temple is stunning too and has many great legends associated with it. The most celebrated festival in this temple is the Ratha Yatra festival.

2. Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam

This Vishnu temple is one of the “Swayam Bhakta Kshetras”. Located at Srirangam, Ranganathaswamy is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world and has stunning architectural structure. Legend has it that Lord Rama, the avatar of Vishnu himself, worship the deity in this temple when he returned from Lanka.

3. Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala, Tirupati

Venkateshwara is one of the oldest temples in India. The temple is located in the hill town of Tirumala near Tirupati. Venkateshwara Vishnu is considered to be extremely powerful, and devotees visit this temple to attain blessings from such powerful Venkateshwara Vishnu.

4. Vitthal Rukmini Temple, Pandharpur
Situated at Pandharpur, Vitthalrukmini temple is the most visited temple in Maharashtra and is also one of the most important Vaishnav temples in India. The temple is dedicated to the Vithoba form of Lord Vishnu (Krishna) and his consort Rukmini. Many legends are associated with the Vithoba form and is also widely revered by devotees of Hindu dharma.

5. Dwarkadhish Temple, Gujarat

Dwarkadhish temple is said to have been built by Lord Krishna’s grandson Vajranabha at least 2000 years ago. The temple is dedicated to the Krishna form of Vishnu and holds the distinction of being one of both “Char Dhaams” and Divya Desam sites. The temple is located at Dwarka, where Krishna used to reside in the ancient times.

6. Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
This temple is dedicated to Krishna and is located in the holy city of Vrindavan. The deity is in the Tribhanga pose, and it is said that this representation of Krishna could be the most accurate representation ever. Janmashtami Jhulan Yatra and Akshaya Tritiya are mostly celebrated in the temple.

7. Simhachalam Temple, Visakhapatnam

Dedicated to Narasimha Avatar of Vishnu, the Simhachalam temple near Vishakapatnam is one of eighteen Narasimha Kshetras in India and is associated with many ancient legends.

8. Kanak Bhavan, Ayodhya

Kanak Bhavan, also known as Ram Mandir, is dedicated to Vishnu’s avatar Rama and his consort Sita. The temple is known for its ambiance, which is bolstered by Kirtans sung throughout the day. The temple draws a large number of Hindu devotees during Rama Navami.

9. Radha Raman Mandir, Vrindavan
Radha Raman Mandir in Vrindavan was built around 500 years ago by Gopala Bhatta Gosvami and is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. The temple stands as a commemoration of the universal and undying love of Radha and Krishna. The most important festival here is Radha Saptami, while Krishnastami is also important.

10. Shrinathji Temple, Udaipur, Rajasthan

Srinathji is the only temple that is dedicated to the child form of Lord Krishna. Before the temple was built at Nathdwara (which means ‘the doorway to God’), the idol existed here before. The temple attracts thousands of devotees every year who are seeking to get a glimpse of this form of Lord Vishnu.